What's Your EDC Dealbreaker?

SpySmasher

SpySmasher

Lead Guitar
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Sep 1, 2016
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We all have different preferences when it comes to EDC. A certain blade length or profile, knife steel, lock or opener, whatever. The list goes on and on. Just look at any recommendation thread. People are particular about their knives.

What I'm wondering is, do you have any EDC dealbreakers? Like, no matter what, you won't EDC a knife over 5 oz. Or maybe you'd never EDC a bearing flipper, tip-up-only folder, or a right-handed-only knife. Or, hell, maybe you'd never EDC a knife that costs over $30.

I'm not talking about special occasions -- the two times a year you go camping or that one time you wore a suit to Uncle Larry's funeral. I'm talking about EDC.

My EDC dealbreaker is a pocket clip. I'll never EDC a knife that isn't a folder with a pocket clip.
 
So far the only thing I have found is a tip down clip. It just makes the knife too uncomfortable. Being a Butcher by trade, hand feel and ergonomics of a handle shape are things I am overly particular and picky about.

Though of another, poorly located finger choils (Spyderco Native 5) since the back of the index/middle finger choil actually lands in the middle of my middle finger and doesn't fit right.
Back to the ergos...
 
I will not EDC a Bowie knife. Too many chores that it just can't do. But I do have some and I love em! Sheath knives for me need to be closer to 4" to be useful.

Zieg
 
I don't like tantos. Don't care what knife it is, if it's a tanto I'm out.
 
Nfd538 said:
I don't like tantos. Don't care what knife it is, if it's a tanto I'm out.
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^^^Especially if they're only ground on one side...and it's the wrong side!

[I'm looking at you, Ernest Emerson.]
 
Autos, balis, or anything else illegal.

There was a time when DILLIGAF but I'm older and sober. A 12" total bowie and a slipjoint are all I need.
 
For real EDC there are about a million things. Liner locks, blade steels with worse edge retention than, say, D2 or CPM154 (when healthy I cut crap loads of cardboard), ethics/attitude/personality of the company or owner, cutting geometry, tip down carry, sculpted pocket clips, bad ergos, mokuti (always hideous), Damascus blades (usually find 'em too busy), partial serrations. There are probably more, but I can't think of 'em off the top of my head.
 
I don't have a price limit, low or high, but I do have a minimum level of fit and finish. If it's poorly assembled, rattles, has gaps between parts where they're poorly fitted, I won't carry it. This only stops me from carrying Emersons and gas station knives, though, so it leaves the field pretty open otherwise.

I own and carry some heavy pocket knives, but the ones that get the most pocket time tend to be around 4 oz, for whatever reason.
 
All of those things above seem pretty good. I don't want a blade greater than 3.5" and weight greater than 5 ounces.
 
I don't have many, to heavy, black blades, anything over $200, Blade longer than 4inches, bright colors, automatic, for being new to knives that's not to many:)
 
This sounds silly and superficial. It will probably antagonize all Spydie fans. That's absolutely NOT the intention. Every one of us has quirks about our knives, some rational, some not. This is one of my "nots."

I can't take a knife out of my pocket and feel like it's a bird looking back at me.

Tried it. Can't do it.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
... partial serrations.
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Ooh. That's a good one! The only thing I dislike more than a fully serrated blade is a partially serrated blade.

It's really annoying with a short blade, like a Delica or something. When designing, say, a 2.5" blade for general use, who had the bright idea to waste half with useless serrations and leave only 1.25" of plain blade...which is now too short to be useful for anything? Lol
 
Very high carry clip that exposes 1" of handle from your pocket.
Also very thick knife, because i like to carry in backpocket, which will cause a lot of "butt-hurt"
 
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